As of June 2026, Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders has an AI-exposure score of 58/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.

AI Exposure Score for

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders

58/100
Elevated exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 60% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$58,870. About 1,300 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

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How you compare to similar Transportation roles

Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders (you)
58
Light Truck Drivers
57
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
57
Transportation Inspectors
59
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
56
Stockers and Order Fillers
54
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Your tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable
  • Operate industrial trucks, tractors, loaders, and other equipment to transport materials to and from transportation vehicles and loading docks, and to store and retrieve materials in warehouses.
  • Record operating data such as products and quantities pumped, gauge readings, and operating times, manually or using computers.
  • Test samples for specific gravity, using hydrometers, or send samples to laboratories for testing.
Augmentable
  • Observe positions of cars passing loading spouts, and swing spouts into the correct positions at the appropriate times.
  • Verify tank car, barge, or truck load numbers to ensure car placement accuracy based on written or verbal instructions.
  • Start pumps and adjust valves or cables to regulate the flow of products to vessels, using knowledge of loading procedures.
  • Monitor product movement to and from storage tanks, coordinating activities with other workers to ensure constant product flow.
  • Unload cars containing liquids by connecting hoses to outlet plugs and pumping compressed air into cars to force liquids into storage tanks.
  • Remove and replace tank car dome caps, or direct other workers in their removal and replacement.
  • Perform general warehouse activities, such as opening containers and crates, filling warehouse orders, assisting in taking inventory, and weighing and checking materials.
  • Lower gauge rods into tanks or read meters to verify contents, temperatures, and volumes of liquid loads.
  • Clean interiors of tank cars or tank trucks, using mechanical spray nozzles.
  • Test vessels for leaks, damage, and defects, and repair or replace defective parts as necessary.
  • Check conditions and weights of vessels to ensure cleanliness and compliance with loading procedures.
  • Copy and attach load specifications to loaded tanks.
  • Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles.
  • Connect ground cables to carry off static electricity when unloading tanker cars.
  • Seal outlet valves on tank cars, barges, and trucks.
  • Operate ship loading and unloading equipment, conveyors, hoists, and other specialized material handling equipment such as railroad tank car unloading equipment.
Durable

No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (84%).

Safer adjacent roles

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
80% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$46,420
46
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
72% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$40,240
44
Conveyor Operators and Tenders
64% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$42,420
51
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
56% skills overlap · Low exposure · ~US$74,500
38
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
48% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$61,770
57
Hoist and Winch Operators
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$56,450
43
Machine Feeders and Offbearers
40% skills overlap · Elevated exposure · ~US$41,220
51
Crane and Tower Operators
40% skills overlap · Moderate exposure · ~US$68,080
46

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.